Yahoo! taps fest circuit

Ebert, Sokolow, Rollins to host panel discussions

By JILL FEIWELL

Yahoo! Internet Life magazine will team with several Web sites to host an Internet film festival during Oscar week.

Fest is skedded for March 22-23 at the Chateau Marmont and the Standard hotels in West Hollywood. "This festival will elevate the online film space and provide a viable outlet for independents, shorts and animation filmmakers," said fest executive producer Paul Turcotte.

Panel discussions

Already on board is Roger Ebert, who will join online filmmakers Sam Sokolow and Rob Rollins in a series of panel discussions and forums about online filmmaking. Other participants include Cinema Now, Broadcast DVD, BeachBlanket.com and Load Media.

Submissions will be accepted in three categories -- features/documentaries, shorts and animated films. To qualify for the feature category, the Internet must be used in marketing, production, distribution, editing, research or casting of the film.

Entry deadline is Feb. 1. To sponsor, exhibit or attend the Online Film Festival, call [phone].